Vacuum cleaner



Dec. 31, 1940. CRANMER 2,227,299

VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 j a; l|lyr 31 --27 23a i 4 x 3 30 /6 i9 10 10 f0 v n K M 45'40a /7 f5 INVENTORii 2. .30 BY Dec. 31, 1940. G, H CRANMER 2,227,299

VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 28, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Z43 27 INVENTOIQ Dec. 31, 1940. CRANMER 2,227,299

VACUUM cLEAnfi R Original Filed Jan. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 7WINVENTOR,

A ATTORh lEY Patented Dec. 31 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,221,299vacuum creme Original application January 28, 1937, Serial No.

122,691. Divided and this application December 6, 1937, Serial No.178,199

4 Claims. (01. 15-457) This application is a division of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 122,691 died January 28, 1937.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to suctionnozzles for use in connection with vacuum cleaners.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved threadpicking lip for a nozzle, which is both efficient in removing threadsand other objects which tend to adhere to the surface of the rug, andwhich will not become clogged by threads or any object removed from therug.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, partially in cross-section of the nozzle shownin Fig. 1, and is taken along the line 2--2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a. cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the lines55 of Figs. 2, 6 and 7;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, as seen from the rear, of a portion of thenozzle shown in preceding figures;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l--! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the linellll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with certain of the parts in adifferent position;

Fig. 12 is a. cross-sectional view taken on the line l2-i2 of Fig. 11and is similar to Fig. 5, but shows certain of the parts in a differentposition;

Fig. 13 is a front view, partially in cross-section, of a secondembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a bottom view, partially in crosssection, of the nozzle shownin Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l6| 6 of Figs. 13and 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line ll-I'l of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l8-l8 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines l9-l 9 of Fig. 15and Fig. 20; and

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings, reference character I0 designates generallymy improved nozzle. The nozzle l0 includes a hollow body member llprovided with an elongated suction opening i2 at what is normally thebottom of the nozzle and a small circular opening i3 at what is normallythe top of the nozzle. Opening I3 is formed in a substantially flatsurface I4 provided with grooves l5 extending tangential to the opening.The rear wall It of the hollow body is formed with a circular openingwhich rotatably receives a hollow elbow member ii. The horizontal end ofelbow is closed by a wall l8 which abuts against the forward wall l9 ofthe body II, and the elbow is secured in place by means of .a screw 20threaded into wall l8 and having a. head received in a recess 2i formedin the forward wall. A portion of the cylindrical wall of elbow H inalignment with openings l2 and I3 is cut away, as is shown at 22. In theposition of the parts. shown, particularly in Fig. 4, openingl3 isclosed by elbow il while opening I2 communicates with the interior ofthe elbow through the opening 22. If the nozzle body is rotated through180 around elbow i'l, thus bringing opening i3 to the bottom and openingI2 to the top, the opening l3 will communicate with the interior of theelbow while the opening l2 will be closed.

Opening I2 is bounded by rear wall l6, forward wall [9 and end walls 23and 24. The lower edge or lip of forward wall i9 is preferably formedwith a smooth face 25, while the lips of end walls 23 and 24 arelikewise formed with smooth faces 26 and 21, respectively. Faces 26 and21 are slightly arcuate, as may be seen particularly in Fig. 12. 'Thelower edge of rear wall I6 is formed with a semi-cylindrical groove 28in which is ro tatably received a rod 29, as shown particularly in Figs.4 and 9. A portion of the surface of rod 29 is smooth and cylindrical,while another portion thereof is formed with a plurality of teeth 30.The outer surface contacting faces 3| of the teeth are straight. Alengthwise slot 32 intersects teeth 30 dividing the teeth into outerportions 33 and inner portions 34. The depth of the crosswise slots 35formed between the teeth 30 varies from a maximum at the outer end ofthe slot 5 to a minimum at the inner end thereof which communicates withthe nozzle opening l2. This reduction in depth results in a decrease inthe cross-sectional area of each slot.

Rigldly secured to one end of rod 29 is an arm 35. The-arm may besecured to the rod by means of a pin 36. The arm is provided with afinger engaging piece 31 and with a finger engaging notch 38. A recess39 is formed in forward wall l9 for receiving arm 35 when in theposition shown, and a recess 46 receives the arm when in. a positionsubstantially 180 from the first position. A fiat spring 46a is disposedbetween arm 35 and end wall 23 for frictionally resisting turning of thearm and rod 29.

The end of rod 29 to which arm 35 is secured is formed with acylindrical projection 4| which is adapted to be received in acylindrical bore formed in end wall 23. The opposite end of rod 29 isformed with a recess into which extends a pin 42 carried by end wall 24.The rod 29-is thus rotatably retained within the semi-cylindrical groove26 and may be turned through 186 by turning arm 35 against the frictionof spring 46a. With the arm in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4,

'1 and 8 the teeth are exposed, while if the arm is I rotated throughapproximately 180, the teeth are turned to a position within the groove28 and the smooth cylindrical face of the rod is exposed. Accidentalrotation of the rod is prevented by spring 46a. and, when the nozzle ison the fioor, by the fact that the end of the arm 35 must project belowthe bottom of the nozzle in order to be turned from one position to theother.

End walls 23 and 24 extend rearwardlybeyond rear wall I6 to form wingportions 45 and 46. The smooth faces 26 and 21 thus have a greatercontact area than they wouldif the end walls terminated at rear wall I6.Each end wall is formed with a recess extending inwardly from its smoothface 45 and 46, respectively, and members 41 and 48 are movablypositioned within these recesses. Inasmuch as members 41 and 48 are.identical, only the member 41 located at the left end of the nozzle asviewed in Fig. 2 need be described. Member 41 is provided with a surfacecontacting face 49 which conforms in contour with the face 26 of endwall.23 and forms a substantial part of this face. Member 41 ispivotally secured within the recess by means of a pin 56 having a head5| threaded into the outer portion 23a of end wall 23 and having a shank52 extending through a cylindrical opening in member 41 and engaging arecess formed in the inner portion 23b of the end wall. Pin 56 islocated about opposite the end of forward wall i9, that is, near thefront of the nozzle.

Member 41 is formed with a bore 53 within tends into a recess 55 formedin the upper horizontal portion 230 of the end wall 23. The effect ofspring 54 is to yieldingly project member 41 to the position shown inFig. 12 where its face 49 extends beyond the face 26 of the end wall. I

Member 41 is formed with a slot 51 within which is received a flatportion of a latch member 58. A pin 59 is threaded into member 41 andextends through a circular hole in latch 58, whereby the latch ispivotable about the pin. The latch is formed with an opening 66 ofsuflicient size so that spring 54 may pass therethrough withoutcpntacting the latch regardless of the position of the latter. Latch 5.8includes a knurled or roughened portion 6|, at right angles to the fiatportion,

the latch back and forth. From the upperpart of portion 6| there extendsanother portion 62 having projections 66 and 64 atopposite sides. Outerportion 23a of the end wall is formed with a narrow slot 65 while innerportion 23b is formed with a comparatively wide slot 66. When the latchmember is in the position shown in Fig.6.

with projection 63 received within narrow slot-.

65, it holds member 41 in a position with its face 49 flushed with face26 of the end wall, On the other hand, when latch 56 is pivoted to theposition shown in Fig. 11, projection 64 engages within slot 66 andlimits the distance which spring 54 is able to project the member 41.

A rigid tubular member 16 is adapted to be secured within the outer endof elbow l1 and serves as a handle for moving the nozzle over the fioor.Tubular member 16 also serves to connect the interior of elbow l1 with asuitable source of suction through the medium of a flexible base.

The operation of the abovedescribed device is as follows:

For cleaning an ordinary rug, rod 29 is rotated to a position in whichits smooth face is exposed. The nozzle, being connected to a source ofsuc-' tion as above described, is moved forward and backward over thesurface. Air flows into the nozzle through the opening l2. A portion ofthis air is drawn through the material of the rug while the remainderpasses underneath the nozzle lips. Thus, dirt imbedded in the rug orlying on its upper surface is removed by the air and carried to thevacuum cleaner unit.

In the event that an occasional thread is encountered on the rug whichadheres to the surface of the rug so strongly that the air flowing intoopening i2 does not remove it, the nozzle body i6 may be rotated througharound elbow l1 so as to bring the small opening l3 into contact withthe ms. The more concentrated fiow of air combined with the whirlingproduced by the tangential grooves i5 will remove the thread.

If there is a comparatively large number of threads on the rug, it wouldbe inconvenient to go over the entire rug with the small nozzle openingl3. In this event, rod 29 is turned to the position shown particularlyin Figs. 3, 7 and 9 so that the teeth 36 are exposed. Most of the airdrawn into thenozzle now passes through the grooves 33 between theteeth. This results in a much greater flow of air under the rear lipthan was the case previously when both the rear and the front lips weresmooth. This greater fiow of air is better able to remove threads, lintand other materials which cling to the surface of the rug.

Due to the fact that the cross-sectional area of grooves 33 decreasestowardthe inner ends of the grooves, the velocity of air increases as itpasses through the grooves. This increased velocity near the inner endsof the grooves and in the region of lengthwise groove 32 tends toprevent threads and the like from getting caught in the lengthwisegrooves, and around the inner portions 34 or the teeth. This effect isincrease by 10- cating the lengthwise grooves 34 close to t e inner endsof the cross-wise grooves 33.

If the nozzle has a tendency to chatter as it is moved back and forthover the rug, latches 58 are moved from the position shown in Fig. 6 tothat shown in Fig. 11, thereby releasing the spring-pressed members 41and 48. The strength of spring 54 is such that, upon forward movement ofthe nozzle when the operator naturally bears down on tubular member 16,the members 41 and which may be contacted with the finger to pivot 48are forced into the recesses so'that the faces 75 48 are substantiallyflushed with the faces of the end walls, and the nozzle operates asabove described. However, on the rearward stroke of the nozzle, theoperator does not bear down on the tubular member 18 and the springs 84are able to project the members 41 and 48 to the position shown in Fig.12. In this position, the faces 48 project beyond the faces 28 and 21 ofthe end ,walls and thus raise the entire nozzle a slight distance fromthe floor. This distance is sufficient to raise the lengthwise lips fromthe rug, and hence these lips do not have to bend the nap, which, aspreviously stated, causes the chattering.

In Figs. 13 through 20 there is shown a nomle in accordance with asecond embodiment of my invention. This nozzle diifers from thatpreviously described chiefly with respect to, first, the

toothed bar forming the rear lip of suction opening I 2, and second, thelatch device for the members 41 and 48. The members and elements whichare similar in the two embodiments have been designated by the samereference characters and a repetition of the description thereofis notnecessary.

In the embodiment .now under consideration the toothed bar forming therear lip of the nozzle is not rotatable, as it was in the firstembodiment, but is rigidly fixed in the nozzle body. This rod,designated by reference character 88, is formed at one end'with aportion 8| of reduced diameter which is received within an openingformed in portion 23b of the end wall 23. The other end of the rod isformed with two flattened wing portions 82 and, as will be seenparticularly in Figs. 19 and 20, these wing portions are adapted to bereceived in a slot 83 extending upwardly from the bottom face of portion24b of end wall 24. The central part of slot 83 is enlarged so as toreceive a pin 84 which extends into a bore 88 formed in rod 88. Thus,the wing portions 82 received in slot 83 prevent rotation of the rodwhile pin 84, the diameter of which is bigger than the end portions ofthe slot 83, holds the wing portions in-the slot. Pin 84 may be insertedbefore member 48 is secured in place. When the latter member is securedin place it prevents accidental removal of the pin.

Rotatably mounted on rod 88 is a tubular masking member 88. Member 88 isnot a complete cylinder, but is formed with a portion cut away so as toprovide an open space 81. The left hand end of member 88, as viewed inFig. 15, encloses a bushing 88 rotatably mounted on the extension 8| ofrod 88. Bushing 88 is formed with a rib 88 which engages within a slot88 formed in masking member 88, whereby relative rotation between thebushing and the masking member is prevented. Integral with bushing 88 isa handle member 8I which may be rotated through approximately 180 fromthe position shown in Figs. 15 to a position in which the end of thehandle is received in a recess 92. A spring 83 is disposed betweenbushing 88 and portion 23b of end wall 23 to prevent accidental rotationof the bushing.

In the position of the handle 8| and masking member 88 shownparticularly in Figs. 15 and 18, the masking member serves to cover theteeth 38 of rod 88, thus presenting the smooth outer face of the maskingmember to the surface undergoing cleaning. If it is desired to employthe teeth 38, the handle 8| is turned through approximately 180, asabove described so as to bring the opening 81 of the masking member inalignment with the teeth 38, whereby the teeth are exposed.

The latch mechanism for members 41 and 48 includes a latch member 88slidable with respect to the member 41 or 48. Inasmuch as both latchmechanisms are the same only the one used in conjunction with member 41will be described. Member 41 is formed with a horizontally extendingslot 88, a vertically extending recess 81, a horizontally extendingrecess 88, and a vertically extending slot 88. Latch member 88 includesa portion I88 disposed in slot' 88, a portion |8| disposed in recess 81,a portion I82 disposed in recess 88 and a portion I83 disposed in slot88. A spring I84 is disposed behind portion |8| within recess 81 andserves to prevent unintended movement of the latch member 88. PortionI82 of the latch member is formed with projections I88 and I88, whichcorrespond to similar projections 83 and 84, shown particularly in Figs.6 and 11. The length of the latch member is somewhat less than the widthof member 41 whereby it may be slid with respect to member 41 so thatprojection I88 may extend into the narrow slot 88 formed in outerportion 23a of end wall 23, or so that projection I88 may extend intothe wide slot 88 formed in the inner portion 23b of the end wall. Withthe latch in the former position, member 41 is held with its lower face48 substantially flush with the lower face 28 of end wall 23. When thelatch is moved to the latter position, that is with projection I88extending into slot 88, spring 54 is able to pivot member 41 about pin58 to an extent which is limited by the projection striking the bottomof the slot.

The embodiment just described may be used in the same manner toaccomplish the same results as has been described in connection with thefirst embodiment. Consequently, a repetition of the description of theoperation is not necessary.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that this has been done forpurposes ofillustration only, and that the scope of my invention is to be limitedonly by the appended claims when viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A suction nozzle including a hollow body having lips formed withsurface contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, the face of atleast one of said lips being formed with a lengthwise groove and aplurality of grooves extending across said face and intersecting saidlengthwise groove, the cross-wise grooves communicating at their innerends with saidnozzle opening and at their outer ends with the atmosphereand having a greater cross-sectional area at their outer ends than attheir inner ends, the lengthwise groove being located closer to theinner ends of the crosswise grooves than to their outer ends.

2. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 1 in which the cross-sectionalarea of the cross-wise grooves decreases substantially evenly from theirouter ends toward their inner ends.

3. A suction nozzle including a hollow body having lips formed withsurface contacting faces and defining a nozzle opening, the face of atleast one of said lips including a substantially cylindrical memberformed with two'rows of teeth, the teeth of each row being separated bytransverse grooves and the rows being separated by a longitudinalgroove, the lower faces of said teeth being substantially fiat, thetransverse grooves communicating at their inner ends with said nozzleopening and at their outer ends with the atmosphere, the lengthwisegroove being located closer to the inner ends of the transverse groovesthan to their outer ends.

4. A suction nozzle ,dncluding a hollow body communicating at theirinner ends with said having lips'formed with surface contacting facesnozzle opening and at their outer ends with the and defining a nozzleopening, the face of at least. atmosphere and having a greatercross-sectional one of said lips including a substantially cyline areaat their outer ends than at their inner ends,

drical member formed with two rows of teeth, the lengthwise groove beinglocatedcloser to the the teeth of each row being separated by transeinner ends of the transverse grooves than to their verse grooves and therows being separated by a outer ends. V v longitudinal groove, the lowerfacesof said teeth GEORGE HORACE CRANMER. being substantially fiat, thetransverse grooves v

